CSB and SJU Parents

September 2010

The College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University together enrolled 3,938 first-year to senior students, which marked the fifth straight year total combined undergraduate enrollment has exceeded 3,900 students.

The College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University have been recognized nationally by their peers in the recently released U.S. News and World Report college rankings. Both CSB and SJU were again ranked among the top 100 liberal arts colleges in the country. The magazine listed CSB and SJU for their strong commitment to teaching and the schools' study abroad program. For the second year in a row, CSB was named an "Up-and-Coming" institution.

The College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University have been named a "Best Buy School" by the Fiske Guide to Colleges 2011. Fiske named 45 institutions - 24 private and 21 public - as Best Buys this year. There are no other Minnesota colleges or universities on the 2011 list. The ranking combines academic ratings, pricing and the quality of student life on campus.

"Stoked - Five Artists of Fire & Clay," a national touring exhibit celebrating 30 years of the Saint John's Pottery Studio, is on display at Alice R. Rogers & Target Galleries, SJU Art Center through Oct. 15. It features ceramic work by SJU artist-in-residence Richard Bresnahan and four former apprentices: Kevin Flicker, Stephen Earp, Sam Johnson and Anne Meyer.

Career Services (with offices on both campuses) extends greetings to returning students' parents and gives a special welcome to those first time parents of a Bennie or Johnnie. This and future monthly updates provides information about what is happening in Career Services and how we're working with your sons and daughters.

During the early part of fall semester staff from Career Services as well as Academic Advising will visit the First Year Seminar classes to introduce ATLAS (Achieving Through Learning and Searching). This program will expose first-year students to information relating to major choice, career exploration, and four-year planning. ATLAS is designed to guide students all through their college experience.

The College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University have converted to electronic billing. For your convenience, students can authorize their parents/guardians to access their account information. Please encourage your student to set you up as an authorized user. Bill statements are sent by e-mail only.

SJU students who are interested in applying to live off-campus during the academic year must fill out an Off-Campus Request form to indicate their intent and be granted permission from the university. Students who have not been granted permission to live off-campus and are found to be off-campus may be billed room and board. To avoid these problems, students must fill out and submit the Off- Campus request for the 2011-2012 academic year by Friday, Oct. 15, 2010.

Award-winning Norwegian author Per Petterson will be at CSB Sept. 18, to read from his new book I Curse the River of Time. Sponsored by the Literary Arts Institute, Petterson's visit is one of only five stops he'll make in the United States.

Res Life offers tips on care packages

Check out the care package tips that CSB associate director of Resident Life Mary Beth Thompson offers in the St. Cloud Times D'Lish story, "Jazz up college care packages".

CSB Health Services, located in the CSB Health Center (Lower Level Lottie Hall) welcomes CSB parents to the new academic year. We encourage you to visit our website to learn more about the services offered on campus.

Yes, that's right. CSB/SJU Bookstores has partnered with Floral Arts to bring fresh flowers to dorm rooms or offices, and, yes, it's free delivery to any on-campus address. We have several arrangements to choose from, a happy birthday cupcake, an all-occasion package and several rose bouquets. You can also add other items to the arrangement, such as a teddy bear or balloon. We have created a great Bennie Pride and Johnnie Pride arrangement that includes a mug as a keepsake for the recipient.

Historical Books is due to arrive in September; order your copy today. Historical Books is the sixth of seven full-color reproduction books from The Saint John's Bible. It is available at a special introductory price of $63.96.